Mahr 955047 220779834 2008-06-21T15:19:44Z SpBot 7016748 robot Adding: [[de:Brautgabe]] {{Fiqh-Mar}} '''Mahr''' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: مهر; also [[Romanization of Arabic|transliterated]] '''''mehr''''', '''''meher''''', or '''''mahrieh''''') is gift, mandatory in Islam, given by the groom to the bride upon [[Islamic marital jurisprudence|marriage in Islamic cultures]].<ref>[[Qur'an]], {{Quran-usc|4|24}}</ref> (This is in contrast to other cultures' [[bride price]], which is paid to the bride's father.) The gift can be intangible or negligible, or it can be a valuable gift of real property or investments. The ''mahr'' may also be divided into portions, one to be given the bride at marriage, the other to be given the wife if she is widowed or divorced. It should be given according to the social status of the bride.<ref>[[Joseph Schacht]], [[An Introduction to Islamic Law]], 2nd impression, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1982), p. 167</ref> Islamic scholars consider it a way of showing importance of marriage contract and a preparation on behalf of husband to fulfill his marital responsibilities.<ref>[[Amin Ahsan Islahi]], [[Tadabbur-i-Qur'an]], 2nd ed., vol. 2, (Lahore: Faran Foundation, 1986), p. 278</ref> It also can be a form of protection against arbitrary divorce.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} ==References in Islamic texts== Mahr is mentioned in the [[Qur'an]], [http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/004.qmt.html#004.004 verse 4:4]. The [[Encyclopaedia of Islam]]'s entry on mahr states: "According to a tradition in [[Sahih Bukhari|Bukhari]], the mahr is an essential condition for the legality of the marriage: 'Every marriage without mahr is null and void'."{{Fact|date=April 2007}} Also, a narration in [[Sunan Abu-Dawud]] (a lesser collection of [[Hadith]], in that it contained some narrations of weaker verifiability) suggests that the ''mahr'' must be given prior to consummation: * Narrated a man from the Companions of the Prophet: ''Muhammad ibn Abdur-Rahman ibn Thawban reported on the authority of a man from the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him): When Ali married Fatimah, daughter of the Apostle of Allah, he intended to have intercourse with her. The Apostle of Allah prohibited him to do so until he gave her something. Ali said: "I have nothing with me, Apostle of Allah." The Prophet said: "Give her your coat of mail." So he gave her his coat of mail, and then cohabited with her.''<ref name="abudawud">[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/abudawud/011.sat.html#011.2121 Sunan Abu-Dawud, Book 11, #2121]</ref> ==See also== *[[bride price]] *[[dowry]] *[[dower]] *[[Women and Islam]] *[http://writerinislam.blogspot.com/2005/07/dowry-in-islam.html Dowry in Islam] ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Fiqh]] [[Category:Arabic words and phrases]] [[Category:Marriage]] {{Islam-stub}} [[ar:مهر]] [[de:Brautgabe]] [[fa:مهریه]] [[pl:Mahr]] [[ru:Махр]]